The biggest field ever entered in the five year history of the uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge will see over one hundred riders negotiate the varying distances from Hillcrest to Hluhluwe starting on Thursday, 5 December 2019.
With five different distances on offer for riders, the three day ride will begin on Thursday while the other four distances will all take place on Saturday.
The three day ride will take place for the second time this year and after a successful pilot in 2018, the numbers have swelled for the event.
The longest of the rides is the 330km Long Horn which starts in Hillcrest at around midnight on Saturday and will see the riders negotiate tar roads and farm roads all the way to the famous bronze rhino statue at the entrance to the Hluhluwe Mfolozi Game Reserve.
The second longest of the rides, dubbed the Short Horn, is a 250km slog from Umvoti Toll Plaza to Hilltop Camp. This event, which is the most popular of the five rides this weekend.
Riders Have to Raise R5000 to Participate in the Event
The 110km ride starts at Canefields outside Richards Bay at 9:30am on Saturday morning for the slower riders, with the fitter and faster riders starting an hour later.
The final option is the 30km ride from the bronze rhino at the entrance to the park to Hilltop Camp. This ride takes the participants through the game reserve amongst the wildlife and although it comes after a long day in the saddle is often a highlight for the riders.
In order to take part in the event, each rider needs to raise a minimum of R5000. This can come through pledges and donations to the event.
All the money that is raised will go towards Project Rhino and Helping Rhinos. These two organisations are instrumental in the fight against rhino poaching in northern KwaZulu-Natal and the money raised is crucial funding for them in their fight.
More information can be found via the event’s website, www.ubhejanex.org.
Photo 1 Caption: Throughout the 330km from Hillcrest to Hilltop Camp, riders will experience a variety of terrain and weather conditions during this year’s uBhejane Xtreme MTB Challenge. Photo: Anthony Grote
With editing by gsport